Opening means for envelopes



Oct. 18, 1960 A, CHEVAN. ETAL OPENING MEANS F OR ENVELOPES Filed Jan. 26. 1959 JAH/Www ALBERT cHEvAN ATToza/vfy YIARRY HAAS e A A United States Patent O OPENING MEANS FOR ENVELOPES Albert Chevan, 46`38A Sansom St., Philadelphia, Pa., and Harry Haas, 1789 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn, N .Y.

Filed .Ian. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 789,108

1 Claim. (Cl. 229-86) This invention concerns an opening device for envelopes.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a more convenient and reliable quick opening device for an envelope than has hitherto been available.

A further object is to provide a plastic strip secured at one end in an envelope and having an end projecting from the envelope for grasping to tear open an end of the envelope without injuring the contents thereof.

A still further object is to provide an opening device for an envelope, said device being provided with a selfsealing means whereby the envelope can be resealed by the opening device after the envelope is opened thereby.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention yare more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the rear of a closed envelope with a device embodying the invention applied thereto, a portion being broken away to show internal details.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the envelope of Fig. 1, taken on the plane of the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the envelope in an open partially assembled condition.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on line 4-'4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan View of the rear of another closed envelope embodying another form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View similar to Fig. 2 showing another embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a portion of an opener and self-sealing strip employed in the embodiment of Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. l-4, there is shown an envelope 10 made of paper and having a front panel 12, rear side flaps 14, 16, upper sealing flap 18 and lower flap 19. The upper flap is provided with a wide marginal strip of soluble adhesive 20 for sealing the envelope. In Fig. 3 dotted lines 22, 24 and Z5 represent fold lines of the aps 14, 18 land 19 respectively with panel 12. A strip 26 formed of a narrow band of tough plastic material is secured by a suitable adhesive 218 near its lower end to panel 12 so that the strip is disposed closely adjacent to the fold 22 at the end of the envelope -in a closed assembled condition. The body of the strip beyond the adhesive 28 is free and the other end 30 of the strip extensd out of lthe envelope. The end 30 is overlapped by the corner A of flap 18 adjacent fold 22 so that the strip end lies flat against Ithe flap 14 at the rear of the envelope.

To open the envelope one grasps the strip end 30 and pulls outwardly so that the edge of the strip cuts open the envelope along the fold 22 to provide access to the contents of the envelope.

'Ill

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 5, a line of y perforations 32 is punched in the flap 14 extending from the upper corner of the envelope through which the end 30 of strip 26 extends to the bottom corner. This scored line permits the strip to tear loose the corner A without otherwise injuring the ilap, as might occur if this scored line were not provided.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the strip 26EL is both a tearing and self-sealing member. Both sides of the strip are provided with pressure sensitive adhesive layers 34 and 36 on opposite sides thereof. Part of the adhesive layer 36 is omitted at strip end 30a so that this portion has no adhesive at its exposed side. The adhesive of layer 34 on end 30a holds the strip end flat against the flap 14. 'I'his strip end 30a can easily be picked up with the iingernail to tear open the envelope. It will be noted that the strip is attached to both ap 14 and panel 12. However, this does not interfere with opening the envelope at fold 22 since the strip readily pulls free of the flap 14 and panel 12. After the envelope is opened it can easily be resealed by reinserting strip 26@ adjacent the open end of the envelope between fold 14 and panel 12 and pressing the flap and panel together. If strip 26a should become twisted or warped during the opening procedure, this will not interfere with its resealing function since all the exposed surfaces of the strip will have portions of either `adhesive layer 34 or 36 exposed. Thus, the strip can effectively reseal the envelope and prevent falling out of any contents of the envelope.

The strips 26 and 268L should be made of a tough, pliable, plastic material which `is preferably transparent so that the opening means is inconspicuous. Of course, if desired, the free ends 30 or 30a could be colored conspicuously to facilitate finding of the strip end by the user.

While we have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of our invention, it is to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made Within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent A quick opening and resealing device for an envelope having a front panel, an overlapping end ilap folded along a line to provide an end fold and another flap folded down over the end Hap, comprising a narrow, tough, pliable plastic strip disposed adjacent the fold line between the front panel and end flap, said strip having pressure sensitive adhesive layers on opposite sides thereof, removably securing the panel and end flap together at said fold line, said strip having an end extending over the end flap and projecting beyond said other flap to provide a grasping means for tearing an opening along said fold line, said end of the strip having yan exposed side portion free of one of said adhesive layers while the other adhesive layer covers the inner side of said end of the strip and detachably holds said side portion to the end flap, said strip resealing said opening by holding the panel and end ilap together at the torn fold line.

i" References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 271,413 Busse Ian. 30, 1883 606,349 Letferts June 28, 1898 1,957,684 Will May 8, 1934 2,191,704 Bennett Feb. 27, 1940 2,396,543 Velazquez Mar. 12, 1946 2,665,834 Anglada Ian. 12, 1954 2,699,286 Getfroy Ian. 11, 1955 2,858,971 Sandstrom Nov. 4, 1958 2,859,907 McFarland Nov. 11, 1958 

